Question

Penicillium is economically important because it
A.Cause pathogenic disease
B.Spoils food material
C.Used in preparations
D.Provides antibiotic drugs

Answer 1

Hint: Penicillium is a genus of ascomycetous fungi which is of key importance in the natural environment, in food spoilage, and also in food and drug production. They also produce some products which kill or stop the growth of certain kinds of bacteria.

Complete answer:
Penicillium is a genus of saprophytic that feeds on dead and decaying materials fungi. They are generally known as blue or green mould. They are economically very important for the production of cheese, organic acids and antibiotics. They play a vital role as a decomposer in the ecosystem. Penicillium can be found at various places including the soil, air, on decaying food, etc.

Economic Importance
1.Penicillium species are very significant economically. They produce many food products such as organic acids, antibiotics and mycotoxins.
2.Cheese production- some of the Penicillium species are widely used in the production of different types of cheese, e.g. blue cheese.
3.Enzymes and Organic acid production- numerous Penicillium species are used in the production of organic acids including the citric acid, gluconic acid, tartaric acid and also some enzymes like amylases, proteases, cellulase, lipase and pectinase
4.Antibiotic, that is Penicillin production- Alexander Fleming isolated the antibiotic Penicillin from penicillium which repressed the growth of Gram positive bacteria
5.Penicillin is produced by Penicillium chrysogenum which is earlier called as Penicillium notatum. The naturally occurring penicillins are Penicillin G which is administered by intramuscular injection and Penicillin V which are given orally to treat various infections.
6.Penicillium species are also made use in the production of antifungal drug and tumour suppressing compounds

Hence, the correct answer is option (D)

Note: Penicillium species are widely distinguished for their numerous and closely packed brush like structures which produce spores which are called penicillin. They have simple or branching structures that are somewhat elongated and end in clusters of flask shapes called as phialides and are known as conidiophores.